On March 23 I posted the headlines of from the Observer of March 3, 1966 regarding the consolidation of Robert Lee and Silver a note of the actions taken soon afterwards. (Due to my respect of so many mentioned in the law suits, I shall not name individuals, with exceptions.) Thus: The first attempt of joining Silver school to Robert Lee ISD, according to the County Commissioner Court Minutes, recorded 7 February 1948, a consolidation of the two districts failed. Sun Oil Company had announced at the beginning of 1966 it would vacate its Jameson and Millican Camps by July 1st and this became the start of concern for the education of the youth who would remain in the area. Also the state had introduced an incentive in funding for districts which consolidated. In late January 1966 2 petitions were presented to County Judge W W Thetford. As required by state law (at least 20 qualified voters of each district on each petition) the one from Silver had 22 signatures and from Robert Lee, 32. The merger elections, to be held in each school district, were called for February 26th of that year, with 2 boxes at each. The report of voting was Robert Lee – with poll tax receipt 311 for with 3 against; without poll tax receipt 2 for, 0 against. And the first tally from Silver the box of poll tax receipt 65 for and 62 against; without poll tax receipt, 12 for and 11 against. The election was considered carried. Then in March a suit was filed in District Court on behalf of 7 Silver residents. One of the items in the suit stated that the election was to have been held at the school instead of the recreation hall as set forth in the election order. A second item was the voting of 4 persons in Silver who had given Robert Lee as their address on their poll tax receipts. (At the time of the voting they were residents of Silver but soon moved to Robert Lee.) In this suit District Judge Joe Mays ruled Silver’s voting count was 63-61. The third item on the suit was for a reversal as the federal court had declared the poll tax unconstitutional and it was before a system of voter registration was in effect. In May the Court, after two days of hearing, ruled the election was valid. Immediately the plaintiffs filed in 5th Court of Civil Appeal, the main item being that any election held in the state of Texas from February 9 to March 18, 1966 was illegal due to ruling on poll tax and prior to implementing the new voter registration. The suit was transferred to the 3rd Court, heard in June 1967 and ruled in favor of the election results. The date of the election is documented as the date of consolidation and the Commissioner’s Court minutes record the vote as Silver – 76 for, 74 against and Robert Lee, 313 for, 3 against.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 12:59:53 +0000
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